I worked with these guys in Hong Kong in the early '90s. They were tough, they used to do their NBC drills in full dress when even the locals wouldn't go out the heat and humidity.
I remember that they had to be held in the medical centre when they caught a cold or something as their idea of taking it easy was doing just one full kit 5 mile run a day.

That said, when you'd get to know them personally, they were the nicest guys in the world, they're fully deserving of all the respect they get.

The government here have been shafting the Ghurkas for a very long time in exchange for a very long service history in our militry, something like hundreds of years.

Only recently have they ben given roughly the same rights as UK soldiers, ie a pension and the right to settle here. Luckily the public got the arse and with a great deal of campaigning it's been ruled that they are treated much more fairly.

It was an embarrassing state of affairs that should have been sorted years ago.

As I understand it, when India gained Independence following WW2, there was an Agreement between the Govt of India and the UK on the employment of Gurkhas and that there should be financial parity so that those Gurkhas serving the new Govt of India Army would not feel aggrieved at any higher pay for those Gurkhas in UK Army service.

The UK, though, in a bid to for fairness compensated in kind by supplying clothing and foreign travel, for examply around Europe. Have you ever seen the Gurkhas off-duty? They're immaculate. Blazer, Tie, Dazzling White Shirt, highly Polished Black Shoes and Trousers with Creases that could cut meat.

As said, that is what I understood to be the nub of it. Parity between India and UK on their Pay to Gurkhas. Anyway, circumstances change...

I once when to Diwali in the 6th KEO Gurkhas. Fantastic hospitality. Gracious hosts. Warriors to a Man and incredible courtesy.

Thanks to PizDoff for both stories - I'm glad to say I was aware of both.

(Not sure if it's wholly true but once drawn the Kukri must taste blood).

I used to think that pulling Prince Harry out of Afghanistan was a bum move. Now that I found this out about the gurkhas, who the good prince had been serving with, the decision is starting to sound downright brain dead, and right in line with the fuss about the unknown gurkha taking option b.

I honestly had not heard of the Gurkha before this article. So for writing and sharing, I thank you. I'm going to research a bit more and learn about these guys. It seems almost absurd that I had not heard of them, based on what you all have said. They definitely deserve some respect!

"The pedant is he who finds it impossible to read criticism of himself without immediately reaching for his pen and replying to the effect that the accusation is a gross insult to his person. He is, in effect, a man unable to laugh at himself."—Sigmund Freud, The Ego and the Id.

There's a squadron of Queen's Gurkha Signals with 2 Sigs another with 22 Sigs and one with 30 Sigs and at school of Sigs plus Gurkha Sigs with their rifle battalions. Awesome guys and fantastic at soldiering and trade.

(Not sure if it's wholly true but once drawn the Kukri must taste blood).

Cheers

Not true at all, sorry. It's a work knife as well as a weapon, I think the confusion started with the Khukuri ceremony when you cut yourself with it on being given it for the first time. I have seen Gurkhas cutting veggies to go in a curry, opening tins and cutting brush with them.

As I understand it, when India gained Independence following WW2, there was an Agreement between the Govt of India and the UK on the employment of Gurkhas and that there should be financial parity so that those Gurkhas serving the new Govt of India Army would not feel aggrieved at any higher pay for those Gurkhas in UK Army service.

The UK, though, in a bid to for fairness compensated in kind by supplying clothing and foreign travel, for examply around Europe. Have you ever seen the Gurkhas off-duty? They're immaculate. Blazer, Tie, Dazzling White Shirt, highly Polished Black Shoes and Trousers with Creases that could cut meat.

As said, that is what I understood to be the nub of it. Parity between India and UK on their Pay to Gurkhas. Anyway, circumstances change...

Yeah I believe that's right, the pay scheme is fair when they serve, and a good draw for most young Nepalese men as it's a way out of poverty and to provide for a family but it was the veterans that where being shafted. Their pensions were smaller than that of British soldiers of equal rank when they retired they were denied the right to settle (or of British citizenship, I can't remember) despite have literally fought and bled for the country and then faced deportation back to Nepal. Thankfully that's all been scrapped now.

Just thinking on the Gurkhas being so well turned out that's reminded me that there's a Nepalese restaurant near me that's run by ex-Ghurkas, it's always in impeccable condition as are the guys that run it and it serves brilliant food all year round, a sort of cross between Indian and Thai cuisine. This threads reminded me to go and eat there again.